OLA — Lloyd George, a former state lawmaker known for wearing overalls on the last day of the session, died Saturday in a nursing home after an extended illness due to complications from multiple strokes. He was 85.

Lloyd George first served in the state legislature from 1963 to 1966 and was again elected in 1973. He served for the next 24 years.

His son, Nathan George who served in the state house of representatives from 2005 to 2011, described his father as a hard worker who loved people — especially those in the Arkansas River Valley.

“I would hear him say ‘My people need this,’ or ‘My people want this,’” Nathan said. “He was real proud of the people here.”

“He was very accessible to regular people,” Chris George, Lloyd’s cousin who will officiate the funeral with Dr. L. Compton George, said Monday. “A lot of times, when you think of people in power, they’re hard to contact. He did a million good things for people. Thousands of people called him and he was there.”

When Nathan began his work as a legislator, he said he was amazed by the amount of people at the state capitol who asked about his father.

“I talked to so many people who said that he took them under his wing and helped them when they were getting started,” Nathan said. “ ... He was a great help to me when I ran and was elected. I would call him every day. He had good insight. He loved the House of Representatives.”

Lloyd was instrumental in the construction of the Lodge on Mount Magazine, the West Wing of which bears his name. Lloyd began work on funding for a new lodge early in his legislative career and was responsible for getting the first paved road in 1968. With his help, Mount Magazine became a state park in 1983. After 42 years of effort, ground was broken on construction of the lodge in 2004, with completion and a ribbon cutting ceremony of the $35 million facility in 2006.

Becky Bariola, superintendent of Mount Magazine State Park, said Lloyd would visit the lodge frequently.

“He loved being at the park,” Bariola said. “He would talk to the guests and just had wonderful stories. He was always willing to visit.”

Lloyd’s political career began as mayor of Danville. In 1962 at age 35, Lloyd won his first term in the Arkansas Legislature. While in the legislature, he served as chairman of the Legislative Council, chairman of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, House Speaker Pro Tempore and Chairman of the Southwest Energy Council.

Lloyd’s tenure in the state House of Representatives ended in September 1997 when he resigned following a guilty plea to a felony fraud charge. He was sentenced to nine months’ home detention and ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution, along with a $10,000 fine and probation, for selling a 10-year-old irrigation system to the state prison system for a $5,520 profit.

In an editorial following his resignation, The Courier urged the public to remember his service to the community, saying “George has done many things right in his life for his family and others, unselfishly, without wish or hope for reward.”

In 1993, Lloyd was opposed to a bill allowing the state Parks Recreation and Travel Commission to charge fees at state parks, calling it “terrible.” Lloyd told The Associated Press the commission was “going to charge you a dollar just to go to the potty.”

As a former teacher and coach, Lloyd was involved in a large amount of education legislation during his tenure and worked to aid Arkansas Tech University.

“He worked with Doc Bryan to help Tech,” Nathan said. “They were best friends. Whenever Doc called, he was ready to help. And when I was elected, he reminded me, ‘Take care of Tech.’ He felt very strongly about Tech.”

In 1997, Lloyd proposed the end of the annual switch to Daylight Saving Time in Arkansas after being contacted by his rural constituents who supported the idea. The proposal failed for lack of support.

Lloyd was inducted into the Hall of Distinction at Arkansas Tech in 1995. He received the Arkansas Conservation Partnership Award in 1997 and received the Tri-Peaks Tourism Award in 2002. Lloyd also served on the Chambers Bank Board for more than 30 years.

A lifetime farmer, Lloyd regularly wore overalls on the last day of the session to show he’d return to his farm. Nathan said his father truly enjoyed farming.

“I think he was happiest when we were bailing hay — when he had his boys out on the farm,” Nathan said.